MARKETS

Epic Energy might not meet debt obligations: bankers warn regulator

The decision to cut 25 per cent off Epic Energy's proposed tariffs for the Dampier to Bunbury pipeline could put Epic in a position where it could not service its debts, a consortium of Epic's bankers told the WA regulator.

The consortium, which includes the likes of ANZ, Westpac, National Australia Bank, CBA, Deutsche Bank, Toronto Dominion and the United Overseas Bank, provided $1.9 billion of the $2.4 billion that Epic had forked out to the West Australian government in 1998 for the pipeline.

Currently, Epic is awaiting a WA Supreme Court Ruling on its challenge to the powers of the gas industry regulator and its decision to cut Epic's proposed tariff on the pipeline.

Despite having its financial viability questioned, Epic chief executive, Ms Sue Ortenstone, said the company was making money and the banker's comments did not mean Epic was in financial trouble and only its financial capacity to fund development infrastructure was constrained.

She also reinforced her perspective that Australia's current energy policy and regulatory environment was threatening the financial viability of pipelines in Australia.

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